Ex-Brentford defender vows to box clever

Former Brentford defender Leo Roget intends to set the record straight after slipping to a narrow points defeat to Lincoln hard-hitter Mitch ‘Mad Dog’ Mitchell on his professional boxing debut last weekend.

The 36-year-old footballer turned cruiserweight, who made 29 appearances for the Bees between 2002-2004, took on the experienced Lincoln fighter at Bethnal Green's York Hall in a catchweight four-round bout on Saturday.

Roget started briskly, using his physical prowess and natural reach advantage to control the opening round, but Mitchell responded well, catching Roget freely during the remainder of the contest to clinch a tight 39-38 points decision.

Roget said: “My trainers are pretty upset, I’m upset, and I can't even give a valid reason why it has gone so wrong. I'm devastated and embarrassed. I need to assess what I have done and put things straight because there is no way I can go out with a performance like that.

“I’m supposed to be a professional. I shouldn’t have been caught more than a couple of times in there. I can’t live with myself after a performance like that.

“That was not even a shadow of what I have produced over the last few months in sparring. The people I have sparred with are much better, harder fighters than that, and I know I can handle myself against people that have fought for world and European titles. There is a lot more to come from me.”